Module Six
We often over look the matter of our Spirit and although I have touched on it in places I wanted to focus on it a little more now, as we reach the end of the course.
Have you ever stopped to consider your spiritual health? Whilst this is a deeply and personal topic, its something talked about in depth in TCM - playing a big enthuses on the importance of spiritual practise and ultimately self care.
I am not talking about religion here but something much subtler… something I believe we can all tap into but often choose not to or indeed dont know how.
As you might well have noticed the nervous system and the Yin/ Yang principles are very similar.
The fact that they both are about trying to find safety/ balance - a constant state of flux. If we are able to dance in this dance of flux and not get too ridged or too stuck in various states we can often find real space for self growth and expansiveness, aliveness and spiritual awakening.
James Dowler talks about how having a static nervous system thats wrapped up in too much safety can become bored and move into shut down. Similar, to the priniciples in TCM if you are too Yin you can become rigid, cold and inward, same with Yang… too much heat can lead to mania and being out of control and in the Nervous system this would potentially be in a state of overwhelm and fight or flight.
Too much comfort can lead to no aliveness, yet too much risk can lead to dysregulation… can you start to see the parralle’s?
Finding flux between nervous system states - a kind of tension between safety and risk is the ideal place for a nervous system,
We don’t want to just sit permanently in meditation and quiet reflection - we also want to dance, have fun and play - all are equally as important for growth with us.
True growth is often achieved when we push our limits slightly and challenge our nervous system - so learning about our nervous system, I feel, is key to our fundamental health, as well as becoming aware of the narritives and stories played out over and over again in our heads.
Dr Joe Dispensa estimated that the brain has between 60-80,000 thoughts a day and that 90% of them are the same thoughts that you had the day before… and the day before that. However we know that we can re wire our brains and create new neural pathways if we want to.
I believe that once we are able to become aware of our window of capacity and find safety and comfort with in our own systems, we can then move into states that allow for more spiritual growth. Spiritual health is something often referred to in TCM (as the Shen) and is very relevant to all round health, yet often totally over looked in Western society as “woo” or whacky, yet with out it, I believe, we can not achieve optimal health and thrive - Our mental, physical and spiritual health when all in balance I believe result in complete harmony and homeostasis.
How to look after your SHEN
Focusing on practices that promote inner calm, mental clarity, and emotional balance, including: meditation, deep breathing exercises, spending time in nature, maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, practicing gratitude, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and a sense of connection with yourself and others; essentially, prioritizing your mental and spiritual well-being.
How are your Spirits? Have you ever thought of this expression? We so often use it.. but don’t think of its meaning?
Through a lot of this course I have touched upon some of the more unknown areas of food and health - asking you to question things like toxins in your home, look at the magic literally all around us in the form of microbes and bacteria but I have also touched upon the slightly more spiritual nature of food too. Energetics, how food makes you feel? We are often so busy rushing around the place that its hard to notice what anything is or isnt doing to our bodies.
I have found learning more about topics like - CHAKRAS has been an incredible way to begin to look at the body in a different way. A wonderful book for this is “Easter Body, Western Mind”
I have also found that through hosting my womens circles for 3 years that I have seen so much growth once we are allowed to fully express ourselves. We often don’t talk about our spiritual lives, values and thoughts - however once they are allowed to be aired… well then things really begin to shift and change.